Crocin' Out in Maine!

It's been a strange summer. Two things were weird, I had limited to zero interactions with cats and then our family cat Buster died! Let me tell you, losing a pet is one of the hardest deaths to handle in your life. I am happy to say that Buster is now interred in our backyard with a beautiful Easter Lily growing magnificently on top of him.

You know he is enjoying the life up there with all the treats he can get from the Big Man (or Woman!).

On to happier things though! We will miss Buster and loved him dearly, perhaps now C&C will follow my journey of convincing my parents to get another family cat? It's worth a shot. My birthday is coming up.....

Off topic again! 

SO this summer since I did not have cats, y'all saw I got pretty creative with my time doing crafts. However, I also picked up a new sport! Water Aerobics. Now, when I first heard the idea of me doing W.A., I will admit I scoffed, eye rolled, and had the "yeah I can do that attitude." I went in the first day like, "Whateverrrrrrrr, I go to CROSSFIT EVER HEARD OF IT? This will be a piece of cake." Nope. Nope. Nope. While I may have been the youngest person by twenty years, those women had me HUSTLING. I didn't know you could run tires in water. I wish I didn't know that you could. It was tough and I did not know sweating in a pool was possible. Also, drowning was a very good possibility. Luckily there were always two lifeguards on hand (and I really think one was assigned just to make sure I didn't go under). 

I got my fanny and ego handed to me so I knew it was time to get to work! I stuck very close to the teacher Barbara so I knew exactly what she was doing every second of the workout.... May have looked like a lost duckling trying to find its mother. My grandmother also did the workouts and has done them for several years. She found it hilarious I thought it would be so easy. On our ways home, after which I would have tried to convince her to drive me home, I would always complain about how sore I was going to be, how hungry I was, and how much water I swallowed. I bet she put in earplugs during the ride home. I would have.

 So while I was putting my body through water torture, my mind would go to a happier place of Cats and Crocs....and I began to notice things around the pool. These things? CROCS! OH MAN. So glad to have found something fun to concentrate on!!!!!! I then decided that my next blog post would be a trip to the pool with my Crocs with a VERY, VERY special ending to the blog. Okay fine, I'll tell y'all: it's my Water Aerobics class doing our choreographed dance to Shake it Off by Taylor Swift! WE CAN MOVE AND SHAKE!! It's so fun.

Here we go....
Going to the pool with Crocs

First things first, we have to shower before getting into the pool. It's important to rinse off any germs before getting in (actually IDK why we did it, other people did so we did too...and yes I would jump off a bridge if other people were too) 

They got their own shower. 

Ooooooo at the COLD waters edge. The Mainer's always said the pool water was warm....don't ever listen to Mainer's when asking the temperature of water. 

Barbara (the Mother Duck....also the instructor) and I in our Crocs at the water's edge! I stalled as much as I could to avoid getting in the freezing pool at 8 am. 

Met some BEAUTIFUL neon green Crocs on the way to the pool. The toes (not pictured) also matched. FAB. 

Purple Crocs without their owners. I never knew the owners to these Crocs, but I bet they were worried I would steal them when they saw me taking photos of them. 

YELLOW! and with decorations! TOO cute. I need to get some of those (color and decorations). 

Look at us!!!!! This is just delightful to have made so many friends in Maine that also own Crocs. You can truly tell the character about a person by how the feel about Crocs. 

If this doesn't make your heart soar, I really don't know what will. This is just such a calming photo. I could look at this for days. In fact, I am looking at it right now just smiling. So happy. 

Okay, the grand finale! Our wonderful Water Aerobics instructors led us through a choreographed dance every Tuesday and Thursday, and I was by FAR the worst one.  It's fun and funny. I love it so much. You may need to play the song along with the video because it is a little hard to hear...but one thing that isn't hard to see is how good I got at SWIMMING! Crocs were unfortunately not allowed in the pool but they watched with the lifeguards to make sure we were okay. Enjoy!

Water Aerobics!

Maybe some of y'all should try it..............

Crocs Out!

Bets

Rest in Cat Heaven Sweet Buster Williamson.

Buster, Baus, Bussy, Mr. Bus- anything you called him, he did not answer. He was his own Cat and as his bio in The Real HouseCats of South Carolina said "Life in South Carolina is a game, and I make the rules."  He was born on October 6th, 2000 in the chair in our den. My mom was not too pleased initially because my little brother Locke ran in screaming that Callie (a calico cat…how original!) had a rat. Well, she wasn't pleased any further when it turns out Callie was having 5 kitten babies in the most commonly used room, in the most sat in chair. Buster was the first out and we always joked that he came out first so he could begin eating first. He was a lover of food, who can fault him?

 There's the little cutie in the top right after they were born.

Locke appointed himself as their godfather and watched them everyday.

Buster had a great life though growing up with four Williamson children could be tiresome, chaotic,  and ______ (insert any adjective to describe pandemonium). He got used to being chased around, held so tight he almost died, and placed in dolls clothes.  He did not fault us, but developed into a very chill cat that knew how to hide…well. He lived through the sad deaths of our first beloved cat Polly Wally Wing Wong, and our first dog Duke. He lovingly looked over the additions of Colonel, Buncombe, and temporary guests Grits, and Hampton. 

Oddly, Buster was most at home with the dogs. He knew he was top dog and demanded to be treated as their equal.

Buster as a kitten with Duke and Maggie- brother and sister pair

Waiting to be served first as was the protocol of Top Dog to youngest

Buster was around for fifteen long years and we love him dearly. I know he's up in Cat Heaven purring in some cat nip, and sunning himself on a warm bed. He was fit to be a king while on Earth so I can only imagine he's living out that dream up there. I'll miss him dearly, but one day…We'll be reunited. He was a good one. 

A little slide show with photos and videos of Buster during his best days. 

For non-mobile users

For those on the mobile and if the video won't work, I have uploaded to youtube
Buster Memorial

Lovingly Cats Out,

BetC

My Achy Breaky Heart

Random Factoid: I looked up the lyrics to Achy Breaky Heart by the more talented Cyrus, and had NO idea of the true lyrics. My cousins and I always sang it as "Don't break my heart, my achy breaky heart." However, it's actually "Don't TELL my heart…" Whoa, but not surprising we messed up the lyrics. What IS surprising is that our parents are not in a mental institution for how many times we ONLY sang that line of the song in the mid-90's.

Back to C&C:

It's now been a LONG month and a half since I have laid my sausage fingers on the soft pelt of a domestic cat. Typing that sentence made me imagine being back in South Carolina, surrounded by Buster and Grits purring in their Catnip and just giggling about the day. I stare off into the distance with a slight smile every time I read that sentence.

WELL, today y'all are in for a real clawtastic treat. I've decided to NOT only do a post about my newest DIFYC project, but to include a BONUS section about a Maine Coon Cat named Willy. I heard about Willy over the weekend, and was blown away. So keep reading! 

Now, without Buster and Grits occupying my time I've had to become creative. I decided to pick up a DIFYC (Do It For Yo Cat) project to cope with my animal loneliness.  I'm sure some of my loyal followers will remember my last DIFYC was actually a DIFYCr (Do It For Yo Croc) project, and was over a year ago! I cleaned up my Crocs for the start of the summer so I could look so fresh at my water aerobics class. It worked. This summer, I'm going to….drum roll………….. 

MAKE CAT NIP! 

Y'all know I'm a southern transplant in Maine, but may NOT know that I have ZERO, ZILCH, NOTHING knowledge about plants. It's crazy, I know, since I am pretty intellectual on the subject about Cats and Crocs.  Luckily I have a grandmother and aunt who have a magical garden in Maine just for cats! Just joking, they're both hiding a glowing adoration of cats behind a face of indifference towards them. I know the love is there…It'll come out.

 So imagine my surprise when my grandmother tells me that she has TONS of Catmint growing in her garden. Say What. First, I had to Google what Catmint was because even though it had the word Cat in it… I did not know what it was…But you know it's going to be a good thing when this is the first photo that pops up- 

Talk about jackpot!! 

A little tidbit from a lesser known website named azarius "Most cats find eating and rolling in catmint to be pleasurable and intoxicating. There is an old saying about this plant: 'If you set it, the cats will eat it, if you sow it, the cats don't know it." Oh my cats are going to know it. I don't know how to sow, but it's not happening around here. It also has a calming effect on human stomachs and can bring down human fevers. Don't Care. Cats only please. 

Now that I know that this Catmint (or Nepeta Faassenii for your gardening nerds!) is a version of Catnip and adored by cats, these brain wheels are A TURNIN'.  I decide to put my cat-less summer to good use and make Catmint pillows for Buster, Grits, and NEW KITTEN COUSIN TUCKER! 

Step 1: Identifying Catmint. 

Unfortunately, we do not have a fun kitty rolling around in our Catmint. 

Only bees

What happens when you try to take bees' flowers away….

Step Two: Harvest and then hang to dry upside down

Reppin' my blog life!! 

Step 3: Get impatient and decide to dry in oven instead.

Tip: Use lowest setting on oven and be prepared for a intoxicating smell. Actually intoxicating, I was very loopy. 

Step 4: When leaves are dry, crinkle up into a fine powder

Step 5: Make your own pouches! Now, I haven't used a sewing machine since 7th grade, but they're pretty easy! Only sewed my finger to the pouches once. 

Meow those look good!

I can't give you tips on how to sew, because I was under the constant supervision of my grandmother after that finger incident. :) So my advice is to get a wiser human (or cat) to watch you while you sew.

Step 6: Put the Catmint in the pouches and give to your wonderfully kittens!

An UPDATE will be coming in the next few days/week about how the cats loved them!! I hope they make it through the mail, because the drug sniffing cats may decide to keep it for themselves. Those feline snitches are the WORST.

Good luck Cat Nippin!!

BONUS CATURE!

For the second half of the blog post I will recount what happened when I went to the wedding of one of my dearest friends. It was a beautiful wedding weekend in Maine and could not have been more picturesque. One of MY MOST FAVORITE parts (besides the obvious to die for dress, heart warming ceremony, AND Marshall marrying a woman that goes by Kat...) was meeting his aunt and first cousin. Conversation turned, as they naturally do, to our pet cats where I learned they had a Maine Coon Cat named Willy. However, the best part was not only that they had a Maine Coon but that their MCC (Maine Coon Cat) LOVED dogs and puppies. You can imagine my bewilderment as my interactions with a MCC (Grits) and our dogs has not been ever one of love….

Bunc feeling uneasy...

Getting there...

There's the look of "love"!

They purrceed to tell me that their cat Willy actually took these adorable puppies on as his own, and truly loved to play and snuggle with them. I could not believe it. In fact, I DID not believe it! I naturally, as any respected blogger such as myself would do, asked for proof…

Maannnnnnn Ohhhhh Mannnnnn. I got so much more than I bargained for and have unabashedly watched the video everyday since…at least once. Trust me, this link is worth the click 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-StMTsrjSA&list=LLA178yE9PSmmSiGBEzkpUAA&feature=mh_lolz

Uncle Willy 

(click here if you can't copy and paste that youtube link)

To Juxtapose that loving MCC named Willy, let me show you how Grits interacts with his brother Buncombe. 

When mentioned to Grits' handler and my younger sister of why Grits couldn't be more like Willy, she delusionally replied, "He's just a kitten, he'll learn one day!" He's 3…growing out of the kitten years to learn.

Still can hope and dream we can one day get a video as GLORIOUS as the one of Uncle Willy.

Cats Out!

Betsy

Crocs in the News

You know, it's going to be a hard post to top my Catersize video… but I'm going to try my damnedest. I'm thinking of making that a monthly routine with different workouts to help everyone keep in cat shape! Does that sound good? Maybe I'll be introducing you to another cat to help us…A girl can dream!

It's been almost a month without Cats, and let me tell you…it has been a hard month! I have attempted to steal two cats, both clearly well fed and clearly in someone's yard…I have tried to lure a fox into my car… I have tried to make a chipmunk my new friend…Today there was an American Black Duck (very pretty) in the pond and I just loved that little girl. I got out the binoculars and watched her for about 3 hours, named her, and cried when she flew south for the summer… but the worst thing to befall me…the worst. thought. ever. I have begun to think about volunteering at a SPCA here in Maine. Now, me volunteering at an SPCA is JUST like Augustus Gloop

If you don't remember him, he's the one that fell into the chocolate river because he was so greedy.

I figure I'll come back with about 7 cats…maybe 20. That's a good range, right?? When looking on the website for one such non-profit they write, "Volunteers who like cats are always welcome to spend some one-on-one time with cats needing further socialization. This requires patience and can be very rewarding. Personal contact on a regular basis can make a cat more interested in human attention thereby increasing the likelihood of adoption." Ummmmm yeah, you will increase the likelihood of me adopting those cute little furballs! I'll keep y'all updated if I decide to enter the gates of my ,figuratively, Willy Wonka Chocolate factory. 

Well enough about Cats (for the time being)! Let's talk about the other main subject in this world, Crocs. Crocs have had a KINDA big emergence recently. Unless you have been living under a rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean under a squid, you have seen Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge ROCKING an adorable pair of Crocs (here on the C&C blog, we think of him fondly as PG).

Is there anything more adorable than that????

No. 

The next step is getting Princess Kate to wear them too!

We've been in touch…she's considering it. 

I'm sure that shoe is out of stock right now and it should be! Crocs are the most amazing shoes ever. 

Me when you diss Crocs. 

Next: I recently got an email from the sister of my best roommate (Clare). Ali (Clare's sister) was writing me to see if I had seen the cover of the most recent People Magazine, because Crocs were featured TWICE… "No WAY!" I replied.  Now, the sisters Clare and Ali were at the oldest sister's (Congratulations Emma and Curtis!!) wedding weekend, BUT she took time out of her busy day to send me a photo of the People magazine! Such a Croc Lover she is, we appreciate that devotion here at C&C! I will be making a donation of one kitten and one pair of Crocs to her whenever she reads this…If she can raise the kitten right, she will get the Crocs. Gotta make sure she is a good mom!! Anyway, here is the People cover:

You're probably thinking, Bets we already saw this. We know PG wears Crocs like nobodies business.

Let's zoom in. 

and again.

annndddd one more time.

UGHHHH PG is doing all this GREAT PR for Crocs and they just HAVE to put another pair of Crocs on the cover with him, and that person HAPPENS to be a criminal?? This sounds like a conspiracy. Also, prisoners get Crocs? Better hide your cats, because I am coming a catnappin'. JK, I'll probably just stop doing my taxes so I can go to the Martha Stewart prison. I will then start a cat therapy program similar to the dog therapy program they have in the big houses. See above about the cat socialization program. Y'all, this is starting to sound like a good scheme! I've got at least a 10 year going here. 

Back to the cover of People, I cannot believe they put that horrible lady on the front cover with Crocs along with PG wearing Crocs. I mean, when else has Crocs EVER, EVER been on People much less TWICE? I really think someone deeply hates Crocs over there and heads should roll. Time to move me in for the fashion and cover spreads. Your girl is moving on up!

I'll be back soon with some adventures that I have taken my Crocs on in Maine! We've been quiteeee busy. Remember: stay safe and cute in your Crocs, but if you have to go to prison, at least you'll get a free pair!

Crocs Out,

Betsy 

Let's Catercize!!!

Well all you Cats and Crocs lovers… It has been a LONG minute!!!! I am so sorry to have abandoned y'all through the spring. I've got QUITE the treat today. Today will not be a wordy post…but rather, I'll let my video do the talkin'. That's right. Today is the long awaited, long demanded:

CATERCIZE VIDEO 

I've had this idea purring around in my brain for quite some time thanks to Brandi Newman, but just never put it together. Well, after the call out from my FAVORITE gym (Soda City Crossfit, WHATS UPPP) for not doing a post since February… I had to change that. I'm also going to be catless for an entire 2 months!! Kill me, am I right?? I'm moving to Maine which is coincidentally where Maine Coon Cats originate….hmmmmm… :) Enough about my summer. Let's get you ready for yours! 

May I present: 

Betsy, Buster, and Grits: Bustin' Fat and Makin' Gainz! 

If the video above doesn't work- Here's the link! https://youtu.be/-Ip5d3l6hUU

Grits "The Diva" enjoying his much earned water break with his wrangler and the film's producer

Working with Cats can be a little….difficult so I didn't always mention reps or amount of times to go through the movements. Here is what the Cats and I came up with:

Catdio: 10 minutes

Planking with Grits (Granking): 1 Min X 3

Barbell Busters with Buster: 20 reps X 4

Litter Walk: 50 M X 4- alternating sides

Buster Benchpresses: 15 reps X 3

Squats with Grits: 20 reps X 4

We feel at Cats and Crocs, this will get you LEAN AND MEAN for that summer bod you've always been dreaming about! If you have any questions- feel free to leave a comment. Remember, when you're working out- ALWAYS hydrate and ALWAYS be purring! AHAP. You'll love your workout and appreciate it when you start seeing those ripped, toned muscles. 

Cats Out,

Betsy 

STOP Online and Text Bullying

From time to time, I have some "friends" who will send me "hilarious" memes, gifs, or pictures of Crocs. I wish I meant the fun ones like a cute Cid (Remember, that's a Croc Kid) or a cat falling asleep against one. However, more than likely they aren't texting me to show the new colors for the spring or the new styles that the genius people at Croc Inc. have come up with that year. It's usually nasty, horrible propaganda. How could you hate something so much that I LOVE so much?? They're right, mental problems are an issue in this country.

This is just one of the greatest photos of all time. I'll accept that Pulitzer anytime…

Let's go through some of these horrific, horrible, no good, very bad photos and I'll tell you what I think of them. I'm going to take some blood pressure medicine before I write this…because it's going to get steamy.

We'll start off easy. 

What the Heck! If this were my cat, this would be our Christmas Card for years and years after BOTH of us died. I'm going to go recreate this just to show you how cute it is. 

Talk about a Framer. I'm going to blow this up and put it above our fireplace. 

Fundamentally, there is nothing more innocent and adorable than a Cat pretending to wear HUMAN shoes. Like step back and don't look back if you think that looks bad. I would probably put it in the MOMA or some fancy place like that. Insured for at least 2 million (both the cat and the Crocs). This is one of those things you want to squeeze so hard that you're scared it will hurt the cat. 

The next is one that I get a lot around Halloween. I love Halloween. It's a great holiday. It's the one time a year that it is LEGAL to leave the house walking on all fours dressed as a cat. It's fab. However, people also have the UNFORTUNATE neeeeeeed to send me this: 

Like. No need to state the obvious here. Why WOULDN'T you love it?

Idk who that guy is, but he knows the secret of the Croc ventilation system. Keep you cool and dry under stressful situations. Great work. I don't get why people think this is a knock on Crocs. It's how to look good. He obviously knows fashion. If anything, someone should give him a new jacket or some Rogaine.

It's hard to win the war against people who hate Crocs. Especially when "trust-worthy" news sites like Buzzfeed print this http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmamariemusic/19-photos-that-prove-crocs-will-never-die-11sp6#.qgaeAEwod . 1) Crocs are not alive, so they cannot die. 2) Why are you so cruel to make a post about killing something people obviously love so much?? I've reported this post as inappropriate everyday, but some how it is still up on their website. All those people they use in their post are gold medal winners in my heart. We should have the Croc Olympics. I'm going to start planning that and it will rival Rio 2016. 

Friends are supposed to be with you through thick and thin, all out or all in, you know? Friends are there FOR EVERYTHING. However, when people send me these things I AM the one reconsidering our friendship: 

Ummm I do not pass judgement on your dorky sandals or monograms. I also don't pass judgement on those booty shorts, tube tops, or mini skirts. Actually, it sounds like I need to reevaluate my friends... Cat and Croc lovers only with proper attire. I'm talking workout clothes with Crocs and leftover cat hair. My main outfit.  

Last but NOT least: 

Yeah Crocs would be a Monday, because Mondays mean BUSINESS. It's back to BUSINESS. It's back to BEING CLASSY unlike your classless thong sandals or your gross topsiders. Thank goodness for Crocs to get you back on your money earning way. I think y'all should THANK Crocs for getting your some MONEY Mo' MONEY Mo' FUNNY. Meaning you have more fun with more money which means you've got to work and usually that starts on a Monday. 

Just took my blood pressure, I'm going to go pet Grits for at least 15 minutes to get it under control and then go for walk around the block in my Crocs while enjoying the last sliver of sunshine. 

Crocs Out,